Our curriculum is focussed around the eight core concepts of Christianity - God, Creation, Fall, People of God, Incarnation, Gospel, Salvation, Kingdom of God. Links between these Key Concepts are made through the study of Christianity, as well as other religions, building an understanding and tolerance of other world religions.
Our RE syllabus promotes an understanding of cultures and religions other than Christianity. Cultural diversity is recognised and celebrated and through the exploration of texts, beliefs, and practices lived out worldwide, pupils will develop respect and understanding of our diverse society and world.
Pupils' learning about the content of RE takes place alongside the development of their skills. In RE pupils need general skills such as gathering information, expressing ideas or evaluation of sources. As pupils progress in developing these skills, there are also specific skills that are developed to enable them to be increasingly able to understand the characteristics of each religion, and the similarities and differences between religions:
This syllabus has deliberately been designed to be creative and challenging and thereby it encourages all who engage with it to recognise that they are effectively on a quest, with each topic and lesson planned for pupils to enjoy an amazing pilgrimage of discovery. Children are encouraged to ask lots of questions even those which seem impossible to answer - and to search together for answers and understanding.
A key feature of the syllabus is the large number of questions included in each unit. The purpose of these questions is to give pupils opportunity to investigate, reflect, evaluate and make meaning. In doing so they will discover more about themselves, their relationships with others, their relationship with the world around them and their relationship with God.
By embracing the explicit teaching of Christian concepts and God's big salvation story, the content of this syllabus gives pupils a deeper understanding of Christianity.
The curriculum is planned to ensure:
Each unit is designed to take pupils through the learning pathway of exploring the text, looking at the impact, making connections and then diving deeper into the learning. All units are planned to root learning in the Christian Values, whilst building key skills and vocabulary through key questions and experiences that are planned throughout the topic to encourage reflective learning.
RE promotes an understanding of cultures and religions other than Christianity. Through the exploration of texts, beliefs and practices lived out worldwide, pupils will develop respect and understanding. Cultural diversity is recognised and celebrated as we remove barriers and build communities.
As well as the teaching of RE giving pupils a deeper understanding of Christianity, it embeds their understanding and contextualises the Christian Values which underpin the ethos and distinctive Christian nature of our schools. RE supports the social, moral, spiritual and cultural work done throughout the curriculum, teaching the children about their place in the world and enabling them to become global citizens.
RE learning is assessed not only through the diocesan assessment opportunities planned through the syllabus, but measured through the personal development and behaviours and attitudes of pupils in school, as this is where we believe the application of these core skills are effectively demonstrated.
Our curriculum is focused around the following core concepts of Christianity:
Links between these Key Concepts are made through the study of Christianity, as well as other religions, building an understanding and tolerance of other world religions.
